Shanghai ChefsAbout the Culinary World of Shanghai

On the western side of the Huangpu River, Puxi is a mixture of the old and the new Shanghai. Besides culture and entertainment, Puxi is also Shanghai’s central food scene. Holding on to the past with side-stall food streets (which are disappearing at an alarming rate), hot pot restaurants and dumpling stands; fine-dining restaurants with celebrity chef names like Jean-Georges are also based here.

Puxi does feel crowded at times, but its energy and vibrancy is what attracts people. Without the chaos and over-population, the city might fall apart being dysfunctional. A lot of highly developed and constructed buildings are centered near downtown, with most of the compounds being a little further away in Hongqiao and Gubei.

The main residential areas in Puxi are:-

French Concession and Luwan- The French Concession is definitely one of the more charming areas in Shanghai. A central location with quiet and green streets, it is popular among expat residents. The district covers Huaihai Road - a main shopping street with restaurants, retail clothing stores, supermarkets (City Shop - which sells imported groceries), pharmacies and large departmental stores (Parkson and Isetan). Xintiandi is also part of the district and is a haven for expats as well as a top tourist spot. It consists of refurbished traditional Shanghai houses (Shikumens) that are now converted into restaurants, bars, clubs and retail shops.

Serviced apartments with short-term stays are available in complexes like Hong Kong Plaza and Lakeville Regency. Rent rates for apartments start at ¥25,000. Old colonial lane houses in the French Concession fetch the highest price in real estate property with rates set from ¥50,000 a month. Luwan’s rates are slightly lower ranging from ¥15,000 to ¥40,000.

Gubei and Hongqiao - Gubei was the heart of expat center several years ago. Most of the expats living here now are mainly Asians, in particular Japanese, Taiwanese and Koreans. Carrefour and another Parkson departmental store are also located here. As there are a few international schools situated in Hongqiao, this part of town is a favourite for expat families. Those that enjoy golf will be relieved to know that there is a golf club nearby. A number of large villa complexes in the area fitted with pools, sizeable gardens, and sports facilities make it a convenient lifestyle. Villa monthly rates start from ¥32,000 and can go up to a whopping ¥80,000. Apartments are a little less extreme, starting at ¥20,000.

Jing’an -Jing’an is one of the slightly trendier sides of Shanghai. Covering the famous shopping section of the city Nanjing Xi Road, cafes, restaurants, several branded retail shops and malls line up one after the other. Western food supplies can easily be sourced here at several supermarkets such as City Shop and Freshmart (conveniently located at the Jing’an Metro Station). There are a number of modern high-rise apartment buildings that are well-equipped and come completed with western kitchens (ovens are a rare thing in local housings). Rent start from ¥20,000 at these high-end apartments or ¥8,000 at the less exquisite scale.

Pudong may be growing in numbers as more and more international companies are setting up their establishments there. However, it still feels somewhat isolated from the main liveliness of downtown. For families settling down though, most compounds are so spacious and well-fitted that there is no need to venture out beyond the compound gates. Equipped with swimming pools, gyms, mini supermarkets, kindergartens and even clubhouses, you find everything literally just a few steps away.

These are some of the main residential areas in Pudong:-

Lujiazui – Closer to downtown, this area has mainly high-rise apartments that have a view of the Huangpu River. Just opposite to The Bund, it is a short commute to and fro from Puxi. According to real estate agents, this is the new upcoming financial and commercial area of Shanghai. Rent rates start from ¥8,000 a month and you can expect to find family-sized apartments ranging from ¥14,000 to ¥60,000.

Jinqiao and Century Park – Also known as Green City, Jinqiao is very similar to the suburbs in the western world because of its spacious green lawns, wide streets and child-friendly neighbourhood. A few of the international schools are located in this area. These include the Concordia International School and Dulwich College. The Shanghai American School and British International School is also not too far away. There are two large Carrefours (your one-stop supermarket), one of which is within Thumb Plaza – an area which also comprises of restaurants and bars. Rents for smaller complexes start from ¥20,000; whilst villas can range between ¥35,000 – ¥70,000. For high-end properties, the rent rate can be up to ¥95,000 a month. Century Park offers slightly smaller apartments and fewer villas but cheaper rent.

Kangqiao – Several international school campuses and large expat housing compounds are in this area. Although not yet one of the larger preferred regions, there is ongoing development taking place to make it more convenient and ‘livable’. Rent rates starts from ¥30,000 for villas and ¥20,000 for smaller townhouses.

USEFUL REAL ESTATE SITES:-

• http://shanghai.asiaxpat.com/property/
• http://www.replusrealestate.com/
• http://www.shrelocation.com/
• http://www.shanghai-realty.com/
• http://www.shanghaiproperty.com.cn/